Month: February 2012

Categories
Daily Post

Blue Collar Redo

Man, it must be something about February.  There’s not a whole lot of cool fun days to share, there’s not a lot of math-y things you can do with the date, and well, the doldrums of the mind even sort of appear.  It’s a working month, and it seems I  have felt this way before, maybe even twice.  Both in February.  That’s a little scary.

So, I am off to the pool and then to the old grind stone.  But I will keep remembering the greatness of the glory that I walk in the light of.

9 How can a young man keep his way pure?
By keeping it according to Your word.
10 With all my heart I have sought You;
Do not let me wander from Your commandments.
11 Your word I have treasured in my heart,
That I may not sin against You.
12 Blessed are You, O LORD;
Teach me Your statutes.
13 With my lips I have told of
All the ordinances of Your mouth.
14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies,
As much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on Your precepts
And regard Your ways.
16 I shall delight in Your statutes;
I shall not forget Your word. Psalm 119:9-16

 

Categories
Daily Post

Pursue

Sometimes you are just led to a certain message, and today this one seemed to just jump out to me, so if seemed there is probably a good reason share this today.

11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 1 Timothy 6:11

Hope it helps keep you focused on the proper things.

Be good, and do good!

Categories
Daily Post

My Other Tractor

(oh just a quick note – this is the 600th post of the Daily Buffet.  That’s pretty cool. Just thought you might want to know. 🙂 )

I saw this bumper sticker on a car yesterday.  I wish I was able to take a picture, but since I was following the vehicle, it was hard to get out my camera and drive at the same time.  The sticker said:

My other tractor is my neighbors.

It the end it was just an advertisement for Tractor Supply’s neighbor day, but boy, it sure made me pause for a while, trying to figure out the meaning.

And then it hit me!

Oh, I have my tractor that I take care of and then I take care of my neighbors tractor as well.  Just like it was my own.  Hm.. interesting message– one that sound’s sort of familiar.

The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  Mark 12:31 NLT

4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others Philippians 2:4 NKJ

Are you taking care of your neighbor’s tractor?

Categories
Daily Post

How’s Your Temperament

Yesterday I was on a call discussing some design issues, and I noticed that I was getting a little bit frustrated with the way the call was going.  I am not exactly sure why.  Well, actually I think I know – it’s more of a style issue with the person leading then with his position on the argument.

Anyway during the middle of the conversation another participant sent me an instant message which said “You sound angry”.

ARGH.

I hate that.  I didn’t want to be angry.  I had just read the first chapter of James, where he talks about being slow to anger.  I had no reason to be be angry.  For the most part is was just a conversation about ideas.  And I didn’t really feel that angry – but it was coming on out!

Later in the day I was reminded of this quote from C.S. Lewis

Provocation doesn’t make me ill-tempered: it only shows me how ill-tempered I am

Fitting.

and disappointing.

and well, provoking.

I spent the rest of the day with that heavy ache in the pit of your stomach when you know that you were not doing the right thing.  Luckily I get a new day today to have another go at it.  That’s why I love grace.

Maybe one day it will change my temperament!

31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you! Ephesians 4:31-32

 

Categories
Daily Post

It’s Candlemas

What, you say?  Candlemas – I thought today was Groundhog Day?

Yeah, it is.  It’s a pretty fascinating day.  I have started it with so much energy that I am actually surprising myself.  So between wrestling Andrew all morning, and constantly singing ‘The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota”, I did some research on Groundhog’s Day.

Why?  Yeah I know!

But really what a fascinating day.  Besides being 2-2-2012, which I am sure has some mathematical significance, it is also the midway point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox.  So that means Winter is halfway over, or there’s still half of it left – depending how you look at it.   This day has been celebrated with small mammals like groundhogs and badgers for century’s.  In fact I found some interesting old poems over at EarthSky, like

If Candlemas Day be fair and bright, winter will have another flight. But if it be dark with clouds and rain, winter is gone and will not come again.

or this one

Half your wood and half your hay, you should have on Candlemas Day.

What’s this Candlemas?  Well since Christmas is around 40 days ago ( can you believe it, and I still have some decorations up!!!), this would be right around the time the baby Jesus was brought to the temple for consecration. And there we see some two amazing people waiting for him, Simeon and Anna, and here is what Simeon said when he held that little boy

28Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.” Luke 22:28-32

And here we sit, at Mid Winter, enjoying some great mild weather, but wondering if the light will reveal that little Groundhog’s shadow, and pondering will it be spring or more Winter. – do we need wood or hay?  I hope you also spend a moment or two today full of wonder at the light that revealed salvation and glory for all people!